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Thread ID: 60406	2005-07-31 11:42:00	Improving Cellphone Reception	hamstar (4)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
377115	2005-07-31 11:42:00	Hey guys, I got me a Sharp GX15, and I'm on Vodafone (of course)... However in my house, I have reception at the most inconveniant places. And like, one second it will be 2 bars, the next second I won't be able to get reception anywhere... Please tell me this isn't a problem with this phone that cost me $280... So, what can screw with the reception, and what can I do to improve it? Can I use a set of satellites to beam it from my roof into my room? I love radiowaves lol... cheers hamstar	hamstar (4)
377116	2005-07-31 12:07:00	depending on phone an external aerial may help. only way for me to get reception is an external aerial up on the roof. i just used an omidirectional magnetic car one, the yagi's where unbeliveable stupidly priced.	tweak'e (69)
377117	2005-07-31 12:10:00	I've read on another forum that Vodafone NZ has one of the highest profit margins in the Vodafone group. I haven't tried verifying that but you could try asking them to use some of that money improving reception in your area :-)	PaulD (232)
377118	2005-07-31 12:25:00	external ariel? then does you phone plug into that? or can you beam it into your room somehow? where can i get these ariels from and how much for>?	hamstar (4)
377119	2005-07-31 12:31:00	my phone has a socket in the back of it for an aerial. vodaphone shop had the aerial. can't remember price as it was a long long time ago. dearest part was the lead to plug into the phone! i think it was around $100 and the yagi was 200+ (standard yagi for tv is only $80 and the cell phone ones are only half the size! total rip off)	tweak'e (69)
377120	2005-07-31 13:05:00	ahh crap.. well is there some way I can like... beam the signal? was the ariel very big? or just a small one? wat type would I need?	hamstar (4)
377121	2005-07-31 18:17:00	Try these guys. (http://www.cellutronics.co.nz/) Just wondering, do other phones have coverage where you cant. If so then it is either faulty phone or poor quality phone, not all phones are created equally. If others can get rececption then take it back and complain.	sam m (517)
377122	2005-07-31 22:19:00	ahh crap . . well is there some way I can like . . . beam the signal? was the ariel very big? or just a small one? wat type would I need? The problem is that the antennas in cellphones are very small, and ever since the extending whip type went out of fashion, users have been very dependent on the coverage offered by the service provider . I don't know for sure, but most phone probably don't provide an external antenna socket either . The problem is usually that the cellsite can't receive your signal rather than you can't receive theirs, because your phone is much lower powered than their transmitters . Anyway, you can try using a crude variation on what used to be called a parasitic repeater antenna . This was a whip antenna tuned to the transmitter frequency but was not connected to the transmitter in any way . It just picked up the transmitted signal and rerediated it . We used to install them high up on posts near taxis ranks in bad areas so that they could contact their base, and they are probably still used . In your situation, presuming that you have a particular location where you like to make calls, you could try getting 3-4 metres of insulated multicore wire (can be very lightweight and costs peanuts at your local DSE or Jaycar store) wind 2-3 turns around the body of your cell phone then hook the other end up on the wall . It might work just as well trailing on the floor if you are in a just-marginal area . As soon as the cellsite gets a stable signal from your phone, it will adjust its power level to suit and you could then have reliable communication . There are all sorts of technical issues with thin wire antennas at UHF or near-microwave frequencies, so this is an extremely crude idea, but you can't hurt your phone and anything is worth a try . Incidentally, if your home is relatively modern and has a metal roof that can be a problem, as can be walls lined with foil-backed gib board . My office is an example, I can't use a cellphone in here because the room is effectively shielded . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
377123	2005-07-31 23:02:00	Is this your first phone, if not what was your last one like. Can you test any different brands of phones on Vodaphone.	Rob99 (151)
377124	2005-08-01 12:17:00	ahh crap... corrugated iron roof... 2 foil-insulated walls between me and the cell site... sucky... that would be why i get better reception in the rest of the house... Guess i'll have to wait until my dad gets sick of his office and replaces that gib or something (like he has done with almost every other room in the house lol)	hamstar (4)
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